Fujian Tulou Travel Tips & FAQs 2024/2025

1. What are the 46 Fujian Tulou Sites which was inscribed in World Heritage Sites in 2008?

A tulou is usually a large, enclosed and fortified earth building, rectangular or circular in configuration, with very thick load-bearing rammed earth walls between three and five stories high and housing up to 80 families. A total of 46 Fujian Tulou sites, including Chuxi tulou cluster, Tianluokeng tulou cluster, Hekeng tulou cluster, Gaobei tulou cluster, Dadi tulou cluster, Hongkeng tulou cluster, Yangxian lou, Huiyuan lou, Zhengfu lou and Hegui lou, have been inscribed in 2008 by UNESCO as World Heritage Site, as "exceptional examples of a building tradition and function exemplifying a particular type of communal living and defensive organization in a harmonious relationship with their environment". The best places to enjoy tulou heritage include Nanjing (南靖), Yongding (永定) and Huaan (华安).

Go to check the details of Fujian Tulou Travel Guide | Best Fujian Tulou >>

2. How to plan a Fujian Tulou tour? - best Tulou traveling route

Most people would spend 1-3 days in Fujian Tulou areas to experience the legendary Hakka culture and be immersed in authentic rural life. If you would like a quick tour, you can spend 1 day visiting Tianluokeng Tulou cluster, Heguilou, Huaiyuanlou, etc in Nanjing. For those who would like to explore tulou and Hakka culture deeper, you are recommended to take another 1-2 days further to Hongkeng Tulou Cluster, Chuxi Tulou Cluster, Chengqilou, etc. in Yongding. In fact, lots of visitors prefer to travel Fujian Tulou from Xiamen with convenient transfer and also city highlights for leisure, and such a combo usually needs about 3-5 days.

Check more details at Top Fujian Tulou Tours & Xiamen Tulou Trips >>

3. How can I get to the Tulou clusters? - Fujian Tulou transportation

Fujian Tulou is mainly located in Nanjing County and Yongding County, about 140-180 km from Xiamen. There are usually 3 ways to reach the Tulou areas, by private car, flight transfer or train transfer.
(1)Take our private Fujian Tulou tour, and there is no need to worry about the transfers. Feel free to contact us if you need any help on private transfer >>
(2)There is no flight to the two counties, but you could fly to Xiamen or Longyan City first and then transfer to the Tulou areas.
(3)High Speed train is another choice. There are many D-trains running at Nanjing Train Station or Longyan Train Station.

Check more details at Get to & around Fujian Tulou | Xiamen to Nanjing Tulou | Xiamen to Yongding Tulou >>

4. How is accommodation like during my Tulou tour? - Where to Stay in Fujian Tulou Area

Staying overnight in a Tulou building is also one of the highlights while visiting this living world heritage! There are various choices for you to stay, including 4-star hotels, comfortable hostels and inns. All the accommodations are clean and tidy that can meet your basic needs.

Check more details at Tulou Hotel in Nanjing | Tulou Hotel in Yongding

Fujian Tulou region belongs to the subtropical oceanic monsoon climate. With a consistently mild and pleasant climate year-around, Fujian Tulou are suitable to be visited at any time you want, however, spring, autumn and early winter in December are the most popular time. You may enjoy beautiful rice terrace view surrounded Tulou in Spring, meet flickering fireflies in summer night, watching the harvest scenes of Hakka people in autumn and embrace the Hakka festivals and colorful culture in winter.

Check more details at Fujian Tulou Weather, Best Time to Visit & Seasons to Go >>

6. Fujian Tulou maps: location, tourist & transportation

Fujian Tulou is scattered in the south part of Fujian province in Nanjing, Yongding and Hua’an county. Driving east for 140-180 kilometers and 2.5~3 hours around is China's costal city Xiamen, which is also the best gateway to visit Fujian Tulou.

Check more details at Fujian Tulou Map : Yongding Tulou Map, Nanjing Tulou Map >>

7. How much is the entrance fee of Fujian Tulou?

Nanjing Tulou offers three kinds of tickets. The ticket price varies from CNY 50~90 according to the different visiting routes you are going to experience. Different Tulou areas in Yongding have their own tickets. And the Tulou in each area shares one ticket, and the price ranges from CNY 50~90.

Check more details about Fujian Tulou Ticket Price at Nanjing Tulou Travel Guide | Yongding Tulou Travel Guide >>

8. Photography tips for Fujian Tulou

Tulous are similar in appearance but all distinct from each other. Yongding County owns the largest area of tulous. Nanjing County has the most peculiar tulou and is also the nearest tulou scenic area from Xiamen city. Tulous in Hua'an County are less popular but more original. Aerial photography is the best way to shoot the panoramic view, various shape and surrounding idyllic nature scenery of Tulou. You can also enrich your photos by adding humanities photography and using wide-angle photography.

Top Recommended Fujian Tulou Photography Tour: ✔ 6 Days Fujian Tulou & Xiapu Photography Tour

9. What kinds of Festivals can I experience with the local Hakkas?

Festivals have a special place in Hakka culture. The most important festivals are: The Lunar New Year, The Lantern Festival, The Middle-Autumn Festival, Qingming Festival and Zou Gu Shi.
Zou Gu Shi Celebration: Zou Gu Shi is the traditional Hakka folk custom, which is a Hakka ceremony that choose a child who was pretended an ancient officer and stand on a wooden board and held by people. The whole march takes 3 hours on the 15th morning of the Lantern Fesival. According to the concept of the clan, each family will provide a wooden board named “Da Zong”. Each family will try their best to run fast as the march begins and which family will be a winner if they arrive at the destination firstly and means the whole family will be luckier around the coming year.

Top Recommended Hakka Culture Tour: ✔ 4 Days Fujian Tulou & Hakka Culture Discovery with Tsingpu Tulou Retreat

10. I want to try some local food. What special food can I eat in the Hakka areas?

You should not miss Hakka cuisine - the cooking style of the Hakka people. Specialties: Salt Baked Chicken, Ngiong Tew Foo, Beef meatball soup, Fried pork with fermented tofu, Sliced cold chicken, Soked duck feet, Ciba, Soked niu pi etc.

Top Recommended Hakka Food Tour: ✔ 3 Days In-depth Fujian Tulou Tour with Hakka Cultural Experience

1. What are the 46 Fujian Tulou Sites which was inscribed in World Heritage Sites in 2008?

A total of 46 Fujian Tulou sites, including Chuxi tulou cluster, Tianluokeng tulou cluster, Hekeng tulou cluster, Gaobei tulou cluster, Dadi tulou cluster, Hongkeng tulou cluster, Yangxian lou, Huiyuan lou, Zhengfu lou and Hegui lou, have been inscribed in 2008 by UNESCO as World Heritage Site, as "exceptional examples of a building tradition and function exemplifying a particular type of communal living and defensive organization in a harmonious relationship with their environment". >> Go to check the details of Nanjing & Yongding Tulou

2. How does a tulou look like?

A tulou is usually a large, enclosed and fortified earth building, rectangular or circular in configuration, with very thick load-bearing rammed earth walls between three and five stories high and housing up to 80 families. Smaller interior buildings are often enclosed by these huge peripheral walls which can contain halls, storehouses, wells and living areas, the whole structure resembling a small fortified city.

3. How was an earth building constructed?

The fortified outer structures are formed by compacting earth, mixed with stone, bamboo, wood and other readily-available materials, to form walls up to 6 feet (1.8 m) thick. Branches, strips of wood and bamboo chips are often laid in the wall as additional reinforcement. The end result is a well-lit, well-ventilated, windproof and earthquake-proof building that is warm in winter and cool in summer. Tulous usually have only one main gate, guarded by 4–5-inch-thick (100–130 mm) wooden doors reinforced with an outer shell of iron plate. The top level of these earth buildings has gun holes for defensive purposes.

4. What kinds of Festivals can I experience with the local Hakkas?

Festivals have a special place in Hakka culture. The most important festivals are: The Lunar New Year, The Lantern Festival, The Middle-Autumn Festival, Qingming Festival and Zou Gu Shi.

Zou Gu Shi Celebration: Zou Gu Shi is the traditional Hakka folk custom, which is a Hakka ceremony that choose a child who was pretended an ancient officer and stand on a wooden board and held by people. The whole march takes 3 hours on the 15th morning of the Lantern Fesival. According to the concept of the clan, each family will provide a wooden board named “Da Zong”. Each family will try their best to run fast as the march begins and which family will be a winner if they arrive at the destination firstly and means the whole family will be luckier around the coming year.

You could spend 2-5 days in Fujian Tulou areas to experience the legendary Hakka culture and be immersed in the authentic rural life. You can taste the real Hakka cuisine, drink mellow Hakka rice wine and taste Hakka tea, learn Hakka language with local people and live in the distinctive Hakka Earthen residential house. >>Go to check the 2-5 Days Tulou Tours

6. How can I get to the Tulou Clusters?

Fujian Tulou is mainly located in Nanjing County and Yongding County. There are usually three ways to reach the Tulou areas:
(1)Take our private Fujian Tulou tour, and there is no need to worry about the transfers.
(2)There is no flight to the two counties, but you could fly to Xiamen or Longyan City first and then transfer to the Tulou areas.
(3)High Speed train is another choice. There are many D-trains running at Nanjing Train Station or Longyan Train Station. >>Go to check the details of How to Get to Fujian Tulou

7. How is accommodation like during my Tulou tour?

There are various choices for you to stay, from 4 or 5 star hotels to homestay hostels. All the accommodations are clean and tidy with basic needs. >>Go to check the Fujian Tulou Accommodations: Recommended Hotels and Hostels

8. I want to try some local food. What special food can I eat in the Hakka areas?

You should not miss Hakka cuisine - the cooking style of the Hakka people. Specialties: Salt Baked Chicken, Ngiong Tew Foo, Beef meatball soup, Fried pork with fermented tofu, Sliced cold chicken, Soked duck feet, Ciba, Soked niu pi etc.